"So, it was not real?"
"Yes, for the last time, Dipper. It was all a hallucination."
Dipper struggled to accept that what they had experienced was merely a product of their minds. I could empathize with his difficulty because the vividness of the events in that darkness had been all too convincing.
However, that was the crux of the matter. No tangible assailant had attacked us; it was an occurrence, a manifestation orchestrated by my mysterious opponent.
Wendy and the other teenagers maintained a somber silence in the car. They switched on the interior light as we drove home. Lee and Nate bore visible injuries, inflicted during their frantic struggle in the dark. Thompson, who had sought solace near the food corner, appeared relatively unscathed.
Tambry seized my portable power bank from the car and frantically charged her phone while using it. Dipper, clearly exhausted, shielded his eyes with his hat, while Mabel slouched in her seat, possibly still reeling from the ordeal.
"...Ray, it wasn't fake, was it? The darkness..."
Wendy asked me as she gazed out of the car window.
"Well, the darkness itself was real. The monsters and the hallucinations you saw and heard weren't."
"You...seem too accustomed to this. Have you been through something like this before?"
"...Just a few times."
"Did it hurt?"
Wendy inquired, her eyes filled with sympathy.
I hesitated to answer her last question. Did it hurt? Indeed, it had been excruciating. The searing pain of sharp objects piercing my eyes, the agony of suffocation, the sensation of acid burning my skin...
But how could I convey this? I couldn't. I didn't want pity; I didn't want others to pretend they understood. I was the only one who could truly face death in this world.
"It didn't hurt."
"You're ly..."
"End of the conversation, Wendy. What happened is in the past. It's over now. Just be cautious when you venture into these... 'creepy' places in the future, okay?"
I realized we were nearing the Mystery Shack, so I retrieved my power bank from Tambry and signaled to Thompson that we would disembark.
"Wait, Ray. Your house is far..."
"I'll make sure the kids get back to their room safely. I'll be fine; you can leave me here."
I motioned for Thompson to depart and waved to the van as it gradually drove away. Wendy regarded me with a conflicted expression.
...She had wanted me to have some fun, but her suggestion had led us into a terrifying situation. She likely felt guilty, but I was genuinely okay with what had transpired in the darkness. The only issue was her irresponsibility as a 15-year-old, bringing along these two kids.
"Let's get you two back to bed."
I lifted Mabel, who was struggling with drowsiness, onto my shoulder. I patted Dipper's back and led them toward the shack.
Upon opening the door, I found Stan seated on the sofa, engrossed in something.
"Hello, Mr. Pines."
"Ray? Where the heck did you and the kids..."
"To the abandoned convenience shop in town. You know, Mr. Duskerton and Ms. Duskerton's..."
"Ah, that place? Well, get the kids to their beds."
"Of course."
"It's late. You can stay here for a day. Soos is at his grandmother's house, so you can use his hammock."
"...Thanks, Mr. Pines."
I managed a faint smile as I accepted his offer. I was utterly drained; I figured I should call my mom before making myself at home here.
...
He
Is
Still
Here
-TickTickTickTickTickTick
Your
Understanding Level
Of
The Daemon
Rised
0→10
Memento Mori. Causality Rate Now Unlocked
"...The...Heck...was that?!"
I woke up in Soos's hammock covered with sweat. I...The dream showed me something, and I still remember it ever so clearly. I...Saw a thing. Something too big and powerful for me to perceive... I was floating in front of it, and...It tried to communicate with me.
The constant sound of something ticking. The words...'He is still here', and The understanding level...What is all that? And...The Daemon? Who is he, and why am I starting to understand him?
"Ray? Are you okay?"
"I...I'm fine. No need to worry!"
I quickly put on my shirt and went to the bathroom, vigorously washing my face with cold water. Dipper was there brushing his teeth, but I couldn't say hello.
"Whoa, Ray? You..."
"Causality Rate...Daemon...Wait."
I rushed back to Soos's room, leaving Dipper alone in the bathroom. I needed to calm down, sort my thoughts step by step.
Number one. What does it mean, 'He is still here.'? Who is 'He'?
Number two. Understanding level? What does that mean? Is it about how much I understand a certain thing? Then, what is 'Daemon'? I know it's Latin for Demon, but then...
...If we connect the dots between these two, does the Daemon equal 'He'? And, why did I see it now? What did I understand recently? I...
Ah.
...I understood the system.
The system between me and the opponent. Why, and how it is going to attack me...I understood Just yesterday. So the thing connected me in the dream just today.
The Daemon must be the opponent, then. And 'he' is possibly still here...Still here? That part doesn't make sense. I mean, I know the opponent is here in Gravity Falls trying to attack me, so he is here...But what does it mean...Still? Still what? Does that mean the daemon was here before? Before when?
I think I'll need more time to understand that part, so let's skip it for now. Next, is the causality rate...In the memento mori.
I closed my eyes and looked at the memento mori existing in my mind. The golden pocket watch was ticking as always. I opened it in my mind, to see what the causality rate means.
...And as soon as I opened the pocket watch, I understood what it meant. There was a small...gauge around the rim of the watch. It wasn't moving, but the gauge pointed at...6%.
"...Causality? Like as in Buddhism?"
From what I know, Causality means...The relationship between cause and effect. It is also used in some religions as a key factor because their belief says that everything has a reason, or cause.
But what does it mean, Causality Rate? Hmm...Maybe, it's...a rate at which something will happen? Then why, and how does this causality rate rise? I...genuinely have no idea about this.
...The system is too uncomfortable for me. I need to think more about what's going on...
"Ray! We are going to get some breakfast! Care to join?!"
"Coming!"
The good news is, the attack from the 'Daemon' would need another cooltime, right? I'll be fine for now...Let's just get some good food, and heal myself a bit.
"Shoo! Git!"
Okay, I have the memories of living in Gravity Falls for a long time, but the Diner is always new to me. New troubles, new rogue animals...That lady is fighting a beaver. Where did it even come from?
"Coffee! Coffee! Coffee!"
"Go! Go! Go! Go!"
The loud voices of the sheriffs and old man McGucket were giving me a headache...oof, they were loud. But the place was still lively. Wendy was also sitting at the counter with her extremely muscular dad. She waved at me, so I nodded back. It seemed like she had recovered from what happened yesterday.
We took a seat at a table together. No need to wait much longer; the old waitress strolled over to us. Stan seemed more excited than usual when he saw that lady.
"Lazy Susan! There's my little ray of sunshine! Where were you yesterday?"
...Little ray of sunshine? What kind of expression is that?
"I got hit by a bus!"
The lady and Stan burst into laughter...for some reason. Why is a woman getting hit by a bus hilarious? How is this even a joke?
"Great! We'll all split one-fourth of the number seven, plus a free salad dressing for the lady, and a small plate of ketchup for the boy. Ray, you order your own stuff."
"...I'll have french fries, no ketchup."
The lady noted it down and left our table. Mabel immediately pouted at Stan.
"But Grunkle Stan, I wanted pancakes!"
"With the fancy flour they use these days? What am I, made of money?" Stan said, while tucking cash into his clothes. Mabel let out a disappointed sigh...should I buy her some? I mean, I bought coin so I don't have to worry about money anymore...Why not. I'm going to treat these guys to some pancakes...
But before I could signal the waitress to order pancakes for the kids, Dipper stood up.
"Don't worry, guys, pancakes are on me. I'm going to win some by beating that manliness tester."
"Manliness tester?"
"Beating?"
"You?"
In sequence, Stan, Mabel, and I reacted. Manliness tester? Well, I could see that it says 'free pancakes' on it, but...Dipper?
Stan and Mabel laughed while I sympathized with Dipper.
"What! What's so funny?!"
"Oh, no offense, Dipper, but you're not exactly 'Manly Mannington.' Ha ha ha!"
Dipper seemed upset by their reaction and looked at me for help. But...sorry, buddy. I don't think you come across as manly.
"Look, face the music, kid. You've got no muscles, you smell like baby wipes, and let's not forget last Tuesday's... 'incident.'"
Dipper blushed as Stan brought up the incident. Yeah, I remember it. Stan teased him all day for listening to...BABBA's music. Is that really something to be ashamed of, though? I listen to Liszt and Chopin all the time, but nobody ever made fun of me for having an old taste in music.
"Look, Dipper. I don't know the definition of manly, but if it means being brave and strong...you're not really fitting that description right now."
"But..."
"You haven't even gone through puberty yet, buddy. You'll grow up one day and have muscles too. You can be manly. But not now."
"I am manly! Look!"
Wow, the size of that kid's ego when it comes to manliness is quite impressive. Dipper actually walked towards the machine and decided to give it a try.
The results were...not that different from what I expected. Of course, Dipper got the lowest score.
"Oh, what? This thing must be broken. It's broken, guys. It's like a million years old, probably ran out of steam power or-"
Manly Dan pushed Dipper aside and effortlessly pressed the machine with his pinky finger. And voila, a record score.
"Yes! Pancakes for everyone!"
Dipper quickly left the Diner in embarrassment.
"Yeesh! How am I related to that?"
...The pattern. Is this another episode? Because when there's trouble, it's most likely an episode...But I doubt if the daemon will attack me this time. He just attacked me with that darkness yesterday.
But still, the original problems themselves are quite dangerous enough. Maybe I should go and help Dipper out.
"You can eat my fries, Mabel."
"Yay!"
I left the Diner to look for Dipper. There he was, walking down the street with a dejected expression.
-shoosh...
...Did something just move? I think I saw something moving right next to me...to my behind.
"...Hm."
Must be the wind. Right now, I should follow Dipper and see if he gets involved in any shenanigans.